LUTHER BURBANK 



even before the publication of Darwin's "Origin 

 of Species", was exciting the interest of the 

 thoughtful. 



OTHER GLADIOLUS HYBRIDS 



Before the gladiolus made its full conquest of 

 the popular gardens, however, it was further im- 

 proved by other gardeners, both in England and 

 in continental Europe. 



The species that the Rev. Herbert had crossed 

 were the showy Gladiolus cardinalis and the 

 smaller but more free-flowering Gladiolus blandus. 

 Subsequently he crossed a number of other species, 

 and produced races of great beauty and fertility. 

 But a race produced by Mr. Colville at Chelsea in 

 1823, by fertilizing the form known as Gladiolus 

 cristis with the pollen of Gladiolus cardinalis 

 gained additional popularity. 



It was not until 1837, however, that the form 

 was originated which was to make actual conquest 

 of gardens throughout Europe, and presently to 

 attain corresponding popularity even in America. 

 This new form which became the parent from 

 which most modern varieties of gladiolus have 

 been developed was raised in 1839 by M. Boding- 

 haus, gardener to the due d'Arenburg of Enghein. 

 Like the other hybridizers, he used Gladiolus car- 

 dinalis for one parent form, the other parent being 

 a species known as Gladiolus psittacinus. 



[172] 



